“Innovation will flourish” in the digital currency sector as anti-laundering laws pass

The passage of anti-money laundering legislation through Parliament on Thursday will facilitate further growth in Australia’s local blockchain and digital currency industry, according to local fintech leaders.

The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2017 will extend anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulation to digital currency exchanges. The legislation requires these exchanges to monitor and report certain transactions to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).

This follows the Parliament’s approval of legislation in October that recognised digital currencies as equivalent to money for GST purposes nd therefore removed (from 1 July 2017) the potential that the use of these currencies would be subject to double taxation.

FlashFX chief enabling officer and FinTech Australia Blockchain Working Group Co-lead Nicolas Steiger said: “To enable further growth of the digital currency industry in Australia, this is a milestone achievement that will allow for an equal regulatory playing field and should only solidify consumer trust in this new industry.”

Scott Williamson, CEO of biometric identity verification solutions company PRIMEiD said: “Digital currencies are the wave of the future for payment systems, but they also have the potential to provide a powerful new tool for criminals. This new regulation, supported by innovative regtech firms, will significantly mitigate the risks and allow the digital currency industry to continue to excel.”

Sam Lee, the CEO of Blockchain Global said: “As a venture builder in the blockchain industry, we welcome regulatory clarity to uplift the investability of blockchain enabled startups in Australia.”

Paul McKenzie, Operations Manager of digital currency exchange ACX.io said: “ACX.io applaud the Australian Government’s update to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Bill, further legitimising cryptocurrencies. This will stamp out fraud and allow innovation to flourish; a bold move that will benefit Australian’s for years to come.”

Leigh Travers, CEO of ICO and blockchain consultancy DigitalX and Deputy Chair of the Australian Digital Commerce Association (ADCA), said: “This is a reform that ADCA has been calling for. We have been delighted to work with the Attorney-General’s Department and AUSTRAC on a sensible regime to provide business certainty and confidence to consumers.”

Danielle Szetho, CEO of fintech industry association FinTech Australia, said the legislation’s approval reaffirmed Australia’s ability to develop sensible and orderly fintech-friendly regulation, which both protected consumers and society and allowed new industries to thrive.

“The Australian Government has worked closely with the nation’s fintech industry over some time in developing and drafting this legislation,” she said.

“Now it is in place, the legislation will help bring further legitimacy to exchanges operating in Australia, unlocking the benefits of digital currency usage and trading whilst ensuring this is done in an appropriate way.

“Overall, this development is the latest in a series of important steps that will ensure Australia’s blockchain and digital currency industry remains one of the most highly regarded and vibrant in the world.”

Under the legislation, digital currency exchange providers will be required to:

adopt and maintain a program to identify, mitigate and manage the money laundering and terrorism financing risks they may face

identify and verify the identities of their customers

report suspicious matters, international transactions and transactions involving physical currency that exceeds $10,000 or more (or foreign equivalent) to AUSTRAC, and

keep certain records related to transactions, customer identification and their program for seven years.

The digital currency legislation passage comes after the Australian Stock Exchange announced on Thursday that it was going to use distributed ledger technology to manage its clearing and settlement system for equity transactions.

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